Driving to the hole, in a nutshell, means to dribble (to drive) past your defender straight to the net (i.e. the hole).
Why should a point guard drive to the hole?
- It gives you an opportunity to score.
- It gives you an opportunity to pass.
- It gets the defense moving, freeing up teammates.
- It makes you a lethal member of your team.
Tony Parker, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd are all-star point guards who use this extensively. They practice driving to the hole because it’s one of the best moves a point guard can have and works very well with the point guard’s speed and size.
Click “More” to learn how to drive to the hole like a pro.
1. Attack your defender head-on
If you’re not close enough to a good defender, you won’t be able to pass him. Get close enough so that you can explode past him, but not so that he can swipe the ball away.
If you are dribbling, slowly dribble forward right at your defender. This way, he won’t know which way you’ll blow past him, and it will force him to back up. If he doesn’t budge, then even better.
Be wary if he tries to reach in at the ball.
2. Make a “Fake”
Fake out the defender to get him moving in one direction so you have an opening to go in the next. A point guard should always have an arsenal of fakes – I’ll teach those later.
Done properly, a move will freeze the defender in his spot, which will lead you perfectly to the next step…
3. Explode
Put the ball on the floor, get as low as you possibly can, take your first step (which needs to be strong), lean forward, and dribble as hard as you can.
Take a smaller first step – it gives you more power to burst away. Most novices make the mistake of taking too big of a first step. You can’t explode fast enough like that.
4. Pick up your dribble
Once you’ve exploded and dribbled close enough, pick the ball up two steps ahead of time. You’re fastest when the balls in your hands so pick it up as soon as possible.
Warning: Do not pick up the ball if you didn’t lose the defender. This will lead to getting your shot blocked or turning it over. Just dribble back out and restart the play.
5. Take your two steps
The two steps lead to your layup, so make sure that if you’re driving from the right, your 2nd step is your left foot. If driving from the left, your 2nd step should be your right foot.
At full speed, you can start your two steps a bit past the free throw line. Take big, long steps. If you’re coming from the side, try to judge the distance as best you can.
6. Practice each skill individually
The entire “driving to the hole” process is complicated. The best way to master this is to practice each step individually to build this into your muscle memory.
Create a routine. Example: Spend 15 minutes practicing “fakes”. Then practice timing your two steps perfectly for a layup (I spent weeks getting this into my muscle memory). Finally, work on your explosion – practice exploding for three steps, stopping, then starting again.
Do this everyday by yourself, and then hit the gym to perfect this in the court.
17 comments ↓
okay, im a starting point guard and this is my first time every playing this possision. I want to become a really good point but I dont want to look like Im a show off. What do I do.?
I just want to thank you for all these valuable tips. I just have on question. I am wondering if you could offer tips on how to best utilize the pick and roll and perhaps tips on what the point guard should after he has passed the ball. Again, thanks for all these tips.
Admin-
Let me first say, I was very surprised to find an entire site dedicated to fine-tuning players at the point guard position. Secondly, you do a great job outlining the many aspects of the point and helping those who are looking to pursue a future in playing it.
I’m 19 years old about 5′10. I’m in my sophmore year of college and have not once played a year of organized HS or college basketball (I never tried out, and definitely regret it). However, I’ve had a passion for the game my entire life and consider myself a great shooter, a good passer, and an average dribbler. Looking through your site, you mention dribbling to be the key aspect of the point that we should focus on, so I’ll do just that. I love basketball and I want to keep improving and improving and improving.
Do you know of any point guards that never played HS or college ball that stunned everyone and ended up in some sort of organized league (outside of local intramural) I’ve daydreamed about being in the NBA my whole life but the chances of it happening in my position are 1 in a million. But D-League? Canada? Europe? My passion for the game won’t LET me give up.
Keep up the good work, man
im a very short pioont guard in 6th grade and im going to be up against 6th,7th, and 8th graders MUCH taller than me. what tips do u have on that??? someone plz help me
HEY THANKS FOR THESE IMPORTANT TIPS.
THE POINT GUARD HAS ALOT OF RESPONSIBILITY
ON THE COURT HE MUST RUN THE OFFENSE EFFECTIVELY
GET HIS TEAMMATES INVOLVED AS WELL AS TRYING TO FIND HIS SHOT. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT A PG SHOULD BE A AWESOME PASSER BE ABLE TO SEE THE COURT WITH GREAT HANDLES AND BE ABLE TO GO LEFT OR RIGHT EQUALLY. I ALWAYS TAUGHT MY SON CLASS OF 2012 FROSHMAN ALL AMERICAN NICHOLAS STOKES TO USE BOTH HANDS IT’S HARD TO STOP SOMEONE THAT CAN GO LEFT OR RIGHT. IT GIVES YOU THE EDGE DURING SPLIT DICISION TIME.
Hey check out Nicholas Stokes on youtube.com
Under baller on a mission playmaker also Nicholas is the first kid to play against the Harlem Globetrotters check him out under Nicholas STOKES TAKES ON THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS HES BUSSIN SPECIAL K’S ASS.
GOOD LUCK
HOOPDUDE
I’m a starting point guard at my team and I use this technique really often and I combine it really great with passing ,but there’s my weak side: I can’t finish it from the left side.I’m not really good with the left hand I can only dribble with it and when it comes to finishing the play + drawing the contact I can’t adjust the shot like with the right hand.What should I do ?
Baller, when you’re working out alone spend a fair amount of time working on that left hand finish. Practice is the only way to get comfortable with it. In the meantime, in game situations I would suggest that if you do drive to the left, go ahead and finish with the right hand. It is possible to use the right hand if done correctly. However, you have to have a little bit more than just a half step on the defender. When you are taking your two steps, at least one of them has to get your body around the defender. Instead of two straight line steps you’re taking steps into the defender. Not running him over. Just “suggesting” that he be a little further into the middle of the floor. Lay-up with the right. If a defender slides over, try a little “teardrop” shot off the glass (See Tony Parker). Either that or a pull up jumper if you’re not quite past the defender. Generally, he’ll go flying by you as you pull up and he’s defending the lay-up. Maybe even a pump fake for good measure
Hey buddy,thx for ur helpfull tip…Now,i know how to be a better Point Guard…Thx a lot for the bunch of lesson…
Yea I’ve done that with the pull up it works nicely but to finish it with the right hand from the left side I don’t really try that.I should thow It doesn’t hurt to try I guess :P.And for the pump fake you don’t really need it.Only slows the shot the defender thinks that you’re going for the layup anyway…
Heather, I know exactly how you feel. I’m a point guard too and I like doing moves like behind the back or between the legs to beat the defender. But sometimes I’m worried about people thinking I’m a show-off. So I only use the moves when the time is right. When the time is right, you will just kind of do it without thinking about it much. That’s when you know you’re a good point guard. Just don’t overdo the fancy moves. Good luck.
tomorrow night will be my 1st time playing point guard this season. I haven’t played this position before. Any tips ?
Hey, im learning how to be a point guard and im a good passer and an okay shooter and dribbler, but my main problem is my height or the height i can jump.
When the only thing i can do is go to the rim, i always get blocked by my taller opponents and the result is a fastbreak the other way.
Is there anything i can do to stop this, and if possible actually get the ball into the net?
btw, im 13 and im like 165cm which is like 5′4 or something.
Thanks.
I think that these tips are really good for people that are just starting out as pointguard. I’ve played Little Leuage, Jr. High, and High school basketball for 7 years now and I am pointguard for my High schools basketball team and I still use some of these tips myself.
I am also knew to the position,but i hope through your procedures,hope i will perfect it soon.My question is;How can i perfect the fakes,can you send me videos containing the fakes to make it easier for me?please….
hey im astarting aau point guard just letting you know these are some awesom tips
THanks for all the great tips they’ve been reinforced, i’ve been practicing these they really help.
I’m a Point Guard too, and I think these tips are very useful. Keep up the good work, so we can learn, and so we can bring that A-game every time we play!
I’m 170lbs and 6.0 feet, with 5.4 % body fat, so I was a bit scared at the first time, I had to play against taller guys, but I realised that as a PG, I’m the BOSS in the court, like you know if I were a commander or stg.
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